I believe what really happens in history is this: the old man is always wrong; and the young people are always wrong about what is wrong with him. The practical form it takes is this: that, while the old man may stand by some stupid custom, the young man always attacks it with some theory that turns out to be equally stupid.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Old people stick to stupid customs and young people attack with equally stupid theories.
- In plain terms
- Old people keep bad habits and young people fight them with worse ideas.
- What can you take from it?
- Generational conflicts often involve mutual stupidity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who is usually right?
- How to bridge the gap?
Another view
Sometimes new theories successfully correct old customs.
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